Ornamental chain



NOV. 3, 1931. NCE 1,830,188

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN Filed Jan. 22, 1930 fl/ .9? MUM-Mull I mmmmmummmnmm lmuumumllmmlm \Ilflllllllllllllllll I 'i i I llllnlflllliilllllllllillllIll 'm llllllllllllllllllllllll IN V EN TOR. [9 0e f, I mm flax/do n W ,A ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 3, 1931 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL BELLAVANCE, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS STERN COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF'RHODE ISLAND ORNAMENTAL CHAIN Application filed January 22, 1930. Serial No. 422,571.

My present invention relates to flexible ornamental chains, and has particular reference to chains suitable for use as bracelets, watch straps, and the like. 7

One object of my invention is to construct a chain of any desired width and any desired length without the use of solder.

Another object is to provide a simphfied construction of a chain having staggered parallel links which are pivotally connected to gether and which have a relatively small amount of play.

An additional object is to form the parts of sheet metal, thus facilitating quantity production and lowering the cost of manufacture.

A further object is to form a chain having staggered parallel links, with concealed link connecting devices.

' A still further object is to provide readily removable connecting devices for pivotally connecting contiguous links.

With these and other objects and advantageous features, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully described in-the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the novel chain;

h Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal section thereof, showing the connectingmembers;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a connecting member and of one end cap therefor;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, showing the connecting members and both end caps therefor; I

Fig. 5 is a central section of the connecting member and cap at one end thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the arrangement of two link sections and a connecting member in position for assembly;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one link section;

Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing the bottom and top of a link section blank;

Fig. 10 is a view of a locking end cap;

Fig. 11 is a sectional rear view showing the sections and connecting member in assembled relation; and

Fig. 12 is a view of an individual link section suitable for use in a modified form of chain.

It has been found desirable to use sheet metal parts and to avoid the use of solder and the like in constructing jewelry chains having staggered parallel links, thus reducing the expense of manufacturing, and to utilize connecting members having detachable parts, thus simplifying assembly and repair, and facilitating any desired change of length of the chain. I have accomplished these desirable results by forming sheet metal link sections and connecting these sections with sheet metal connecting members having detachable parts, one part in the shape of a flat U with locking notches on the sides adjacent the ends thereof, and a cooperating part formed as a hollow link section with inwardly projecting abutments with which the locking notches detachably engage; and the following is a detailed description of a specific chain construction embodying the principles of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the novel chain is formed of link sections which simulate the appearance of separate individual links, and connecting members 21, the upper and lower parts of which also simulate separate individual links. Each link section 20, in the embodiment shown, is formed from a sheet metal blank 22, which is partly cut through at.

23, as shown in Figure 8, the upper surface being grooved as at 24 to join the cuts 23 and form panels 25 which simulate complete separation. The ends of the panels 25 are turned or bent to abut, as shown in Fig. 7, each link section therefore simulating the appearance of a plurality of staggered individual link sections.

The connecting member 21 is formed of a U-shaped sheet metal connecting member 26, a top cap member 27 of sheet metal, and a bottom cap member 28, also of sheet metal. The cap member 27 has its sides extended to form two lugs 29 which are bent over the base of the U-shaped member to abut, as shown in I tool, such as a pin or the like, to shift the resilient sides 31 towards each other for detaching the cap 28 after the chain is assembled. To assemble the chain, link sections are placed in adjacent position, as shown inFigure 6,.and-the sides ofthe U-shaped member 26, which has the bottom cap member 27 secured thereto, are passed through the contignous loops of the adjacent link sections; the cap member 28 is then snapped over the free ends of the U-shaped member to engage the abutments 3.3 with the notches 32, and thus detachably secure the link sections togeth r in the chain. As previously described, the connecting member is removed by pushing the sides 31 towards each other through the slot in the rear wall of cap 28 to disengagethe abutments from their cooperating notches.

When desired, individual link sections 34 may be used instead of link sections 20. These links, which may be formed of tubular stock, or of sheet stock bent into loop form, are positioned as shown in Figure 6, the assembly being the same as for the link sections 20.

The wide sides 31 of the U connector limit side movement of the link sections while permittin the desired flexibility of the chain as a who e, thus providing a' strong, sturdy,

close-knit ornamental chain.

While I have described a specific constructional embodiment of the principles of my invention, it is obvious that various changes 'in the arrangement and in the structure of the parts, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims, maybe made.

I claim:

1. A flexible chain for a bracelet or the like, comprising a plurality of sheet metal link sections, U-shaped sheet metal connecting members passing through contiguous staggered link section loops to pivotally connect said link sections together, and a cap spanning and detach'ably engaging the open ends a of each of saidconnecting members.

2. A flexible chain for a bracelet or the like, comprising a plurality of sheet metal link sections, U-shaped sheet metal connecting members passing through contiguous staggered link section loops to pivotally connect said link sections together, latch members on the ends of said connecting members, a cap for the open ends of each of said connecting members spanning the same, and catch members on said caps engageable with said latch members. y i

3. A flexible chain for a bracelet or the like, comprising a plurality of sheet metal link sections, U-shaped sheet metal connecting members passing through contiguous staggered link section loops to pivotally connect said link sections together, notches on the outer edges of the sides of said connecting members adjacent the ends thereof, caps for the open ends of said connecting members, and projections on said caps engageable with said notches.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PAUL BELLAVANCE.

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